Be Heard Project: Protect Pro-Life Doctors

The American Center for Law & Justice is encouraging people to sign a petition to protect the Conscience Clause, which allows doctors and other medical personnel to abstain from performing services (most notably abortion) which are against their beliefs and convictions. The petition can be found at BeHeardProject.com:

President Obama: Respect My Pro-Life Convictions

You have strong convictions, but President Obama says that doesn’t matter. He’s ready to rescind the Conscience Clause.

The Conscience Clause was implemented by former President George W. Bush to give physicians and nurses the choice to act according to their conscience — to not participate in abortion procedures if it conflicts with their personal convictions. If President Obama makes this damaging move, if he reverses the Conscience Clause, pro-life doctors and nurses will be forced into performing abortion procedures, despite their individual beliefs.

The announcement was made Friday, March 6, 2009. Since the official announcement was made, the public now has 30 days to file comments with the White House … so we’ve got 30 days to make our voices heard at the White House.

Make a difference in this nation and stand for the freedom to act according to your conscience. Sign the online “Petition to Protect Pro-Life Doctors” below now. It will be delivered and filed at the White House no later than April 8, 2009. Get the word out now. BE HEARD!

Perspective from members of both sides of the issue can be found below, as reported by KJCT8:

One group against Obama’s planned reversal demonstrated in front of St. Mary’s hospital today. Both sides of the issue hold strong opinions.

Patti Brown was one of the demonstrators. “[It’s important] our citizens become aware of this because no matter what your stand is on the abortion issue, citizens should be outraged that our rights can be taken away if we morally .”

Emilie Ailts of N.A.R.A.L., a group supporting pro-choice believes differently. “People, like secretaries who schedule appointments or whole health care organizations, [can] deny access to contraception or even referral to sources where they might get contraception…which would include victims of sexual assault.”

Those against the change are worried the reversal could force medical workers to leave their job due to their ethics. But those pleased with the reversal say health-care providers have a moral obligation to their patients despite their own beliefs.

Consider defending the pro-life nurses and doctors in our land from being required to perform or aid in abortion procedures. Consider signing the ACLJ petition, which will be delivered and filed with the White House.

17 comments

JustinApril 4, 2009 at 2:54 am

I signed this petition, but I think this administration is going to go its own way, and do as it pleases. It has shown nothing different on many issues already, regardless of public outcry. Those in power have no desire to listen to those who differ in opinion. This is not opinion. It is fact, evident since the inauguration. We, the US citizens, chose this. Now that the “barbarians” are through the gates, so to speak, OF COURSE the’re going to have their way. OF COURSE the town will be sacked without restraint. This is a symptom of our polarized two party political system. We are bound to swing from one side to the other, depending on who is in charge.

One other comment, no one can FORCE a doctor to kill a baby. It’s true. If a doctor chooses to murder to save his job, that is a CHOICE. Career vs. convictions. Even with a gun to one’s head, there is still a choice. It is sad that it comes down to this. I have had to choose between a career (8-1/2 years into it) and my convictions. It’s tough. There is, however, ALWAYS a choice.

God have mercy on this country- for the spilling of innocent blood- The Prince of Kenya is bringing us closer to judgement- He campaigned “We need to reduce abortions” and everything he has done has done the opposite- He is not to be trusted.

Did anyone else hear of the minister (I think she was Episcopal) who called abortion a blessing, and abortion providers “heroes” and “saints”???? Pro-lifers are “villans”. Amazing. Forgive my tone here, but I am MAD.

This lunatic has no more claim to the title of Minister of God than does Anton LaVey. How is ANY child’s death a blessing?

I cannot at all understand where this lady is coming from. Saints? Heroes? Blessing? Ask the murdered babies. This nation is indeed begging for judgement. How do we differ from those offering their children to Molech??? Our god in America is sexual gratification, that’s the only difference. Child sacrifice is a primary reason the Canaanites were wiped out.

How long are believers supposed to pray for mercy? How long do we ask for the forgiveness of this obscene practice? Is there ever a point where we should ask for judgement? The Psalms are full of prayers against David’s enemies. I don’t know that I can pray for God to forgive our nation for something it will not repent of.

IMO believers should never ask specifically for judgment. Remember the request of the disciples to Jesus to ‘call down fire from Heaven…’ when the people were not heeding the message of the Kingdom?

That however does not mean that God does not bring judgements in this world or in His Church. However, it would be a brave man or women to be the ‘word’ on that. I believe God does judge sin and rebellion, but it does start in God’s house! God’s mercy is great, and in wrath, He does remember mercy, always. He is slow to anger and rich in love. But He also will chastise disobedient sons, and a world that will not hear the good news.

Should we then take a stand against sin? Absolutely, but first let us make sure the plank is not in our own eye first, as individuals and as a Church. Only then can we be God’s voice of holiness and righteousness against darkness.

What God does with individuals or peoples however, is His choosing not ours. He knows the heart of people. I believe our primary calling is to minister redemptively in all situations. That is not some weak thing, but is glorious, and also contains a warning that judgement remains if people do not turn to faith & purity in Jesus Christ & His Kingdom.

The utterly astonishing thing about this text is that it portrays the prayers of the saints as the instrument God uses to usher in the end of the world with great divine judgments. It pictures the prayers of the saints accumulating on the altar before the throne of God until the appointed time when they are taken up like fire from the altar and thrown upon the earth to bring about the consummation of God’s kingdom.

Andrew- In your example, the disciples wanted to call down fire to kill people for rejecting the Messiah. This was wrong, I agree with Messiah. However, your example does not apply to this situation, as I am not saying this. Asking the LORD to judge a blatantly sinful, murdering nation is different. I am asking about beseeching the LORD to avenge / stop the deaths of MILLIONS. I’m not asking to be empowered to personally participate in killing non-believers.

A quick glance through the Psalms shows many supplications for judgment and justice. Ezekiel 16 (I believe) and other passages speak of punishment for child sacrifice. Revelation shows an undeniable example, as Marcus points out, of the innocent crying out for justice.

Andrew, what do you mean by “minister redemptively”? How do you “minister redemptively” to a baby getting its brains sucked out? Being ripped apart? Burned with chemicals? Do you speak of ministering redemptively to murderers and unrepentant killers? WHAT ABOUT THE BABIES??? How are we defending the innocent by sitting meekly by? Holding up a sign??? Really, what good does that do to STOP abortion? NOTHING! Blowing up clinics is no good either. This does nothing. The only force that can STOP societal evil is the LORD GOD. How does He do this? The scriptural precedent is that He judges unrepentant, wicked nations. CHILDREN ARE BEING MURDERED. Is this not understood?

Would you “minister redemptively” to a clinic where people bring their pre-teen children to be murdered if they’re inconvenient? NO!!!! IT’S NO DIFFERENT!!!!! The only reason abortion is seen differently is because it is unseen and the victims have no voice.

If this nation wants abortion, which it does, so be it. I WILL pray for the blood of these innocents to be avenged. I WILL pray for justice and vengeance on the nations that murder unborn babies, and upon nations wanting, no, DEFENDING this practice. It has to start somewhere.

When the church grasps to horror of what we are doing to our children, it HAD BETTER pray for God to stop this by whatever means necessary. I don’t think the horror of the bloody, violent practice of abortion has really hit home in our churches. Otherwise we would be in tears daily, fasting and praying for the Living God to stop this practice, even if it means the judgment of this nation. Political action won’t do it in a democracy where this is what the people want. Lobbying has proven fruitless. Protests are a start, but still yet another human attempt at solving this. Physical violence by people will not stop abortion. Fasting and prayer, saints. Fasting, prayer, and tears. I have been patient and reasonable concerning this practice for fifteen years. I have prayed for political change. I have prayed for changes in the people’s hearts. I have held signs, honked horns, written essays, and done all my powerless self can do. I have prayed for change.

Society does not want change. America does not want to be ministered to redemptively on abortion. Society’s collective heart has been hardened to the cries of the crushed, hacked, chopped, burned, and thrown-away-as-medical-waste babies. Enough. I will pray for justice for these babies. You pray for change in people’s hearts. You “minister redemptively”. Try that with Bin Laden as well. Jeffery Dahmer. Hitler. Manson. Some people don’t want to be ministered to. Some people (and/or societies) have totally gone over evil. I’ll pray for JUSTICE to be done for those innocent dismembered babies. I challenge every believer reading this to fast for a day, even a half of a day, every Friday. Fast and pray for justice to be done. Fast and pray for God’s mercy, not on this unrepentant nation, but mercy for the unborn. Even if it means wrath on the rest of us.

Thanks for you response. I understand the terrible grieving over the issues you mention, however, your response concerns me for the following reasons:

1. If you knew the vulgar sinful practices and thoughts of many people before they found Jesus Christ, then would your above approach be applicable and would you have ‘prayed for judgement’ there also? I guarantee that among the Church of God there are former homosexuals, murderers, rapists, and every other sin under the sun. God knew, and he ‘redeemed’ them, though we / they did not deserve it.

2. Judgement is always God’s prerogative, period. We can pray for justice, but how God administers that is His choosing alone. (Is it ‘justice’ by our standards that God loved Saul of Tarsus? A murderer of the Church? I wonder if entire families, children included, where killed?)

3. Like I said, I believe God will and does judge in this world, however, we need to be very careful in taking certain stances on this, and make sure we have the Spirit of Christ. If we are burdened in a way that we sense God is grieved by a certain issue, then travail by all means, but let’s not put our personal understanding of ‘what should be done’ in the mix, or how He should do it.

4. The Scripture in Revelation is not ‘the innocent crying out for justice’ – it is the saints, in ‘white robes’ and washed ‘in the blood of the Lamb’ (formerly sinners) praying / crying out for God’s vindication of His people & Kingdom. The time comes when the prayers reach their fulness and God answers at the chosen time.

5. You asked: “Would you “minister redemptively” to a clinic where people bring their pre-teen children to be murdered if they’re inconvenient?” – I would. (But that doesn’t mean I would not condemn the act or practice.)

I encourage you to read Bethany French’s article on this. She is involved in a ministry that both speaks out against these acts, but also ‘ministers redemptively’ to those involved. I know some young women who have had abortions. Some are / were sadly emotionally scarred; some oppressed by evil powers; all from dark and sinful backgrounds. And such were some of us, but God….

Sorry, Justin. I forgot to mention your point about the Luke 9 narrative, with the disciples wanting to call fire down.

Yes, the Samaritans did not welcome the Lord. But surely the principle applies to judging people who do not live in under the standards of the Cross. (And again I emphasize, yes, God judges today, but because He alone knows the hearts of men, we do not!)

In regard to this passage, let me finish by giving a quote from one of the best commentators on Luke, N Geldenhuys:

‘In our loyalty to Christ, however zealous it may be, we must be constantly on our guard that we do not act with a spirit out of harmony with His, or follow methods of which He would not approve.’

One more thing (and this is my last thing I promise :) – God can use His people as instruments of judgement (as with Peter and Paul in Acts) – however, the above issue applies. We do not choose how or when or why. In those cases the Spirit would have brought revelation to those men, and they were holy men of God, who knew of His patience with them and their past moments of sinfulness, and understood His heart of mercy with them as individuals.

That for me is the key thing: let’s be careful that we have the Spirit of Christ on all such matters.

I think there’s no harm in praying for justice, but judgment is a different matter. There’s also the example of Jesus praying “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Judgment is both coming to and is already here on those nations that condone abortion. I agree with Justin’s observation that most of the church is woefully ignorant about the gravity of the abortion holocaust.

A few responses to your posts, Andrew-
1.-Of course the church is full of sinners. Of course we were forgiven. However, I don’t believe this is a valid comparison/example in this conversation. I am not talking about individuals’ sins, I am speaking of a nation that condones and defends the murder of millions of people. I think scripture is clear, in both Testaments, that nations are judged, and in the example of the Canaanites, specifically for their wickedness that included child murder. Always though, has God been willing to redeem individuals. I never said anything about judgment on individuals. I am speaking of national, societal evils.

2. / 3.- I know judgment is God’s prerogative. I am praying for exactly that. Whatever His will is on that subject. By asking Him for judgment, I am pouring out my desire for Him to end this atrocity. Our Savior prayed to be delivered from the cross, with the caveat, “Not my will but yours…” It is my wish that the Lord stops abortion. NOW. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY? That may not be His will though. He has a plan. He is quite a bit more wise than I am. Are we not to pour our hearts and opinions out to our Father? Are we not to pray if we don’t exactly know His will and His plan? When, then, do we pray? When I pray, it is a pouring out of my heart, opinions, everything. Whether or not I know his means or His will. He gets to hear it all from me. One point I would make is that you don’t know His will on our nation and abortion any more than I do! Does that mean you should not pray concerning it? Here’s a question I have If Nazi Germany was still alive and killing Jews, would you not pray for that horrible practice to be stopped? By any means necessary? Our holocaust in America is just as horrible. We say we believe that the unborn are alive. Do we? Really? Then what is the difference between abortion (a national program of murder) and the holocaust (a national program of murder)??? There is no difference. Would we go about ending the Nazi Holocaust by ministering to individual Nazi soldiers, ex-prison guards? NO! We would cry out to the Living God to show mercy on his children and to stop it! This is all I am advocating.

4.- Revelation example- As you said, this is the saints (redeemed, the innocent, as I said) crying out for vindication (justice, just as I said). Of course I’m not so naïve as to twist this and say it is the aborted babies crying out for justice. All I am saying is that it is ok for us to cry out for vindication/justice/ God’s vengeance. You said “The time comes when the prayers reach their fullness and God answers at the chosen time.” How can prayers reach their fullness if no one ever starts praying???

5.- You never defined ministering redemptively. How does it apply to our nation? The dead babies? The baby about to be aborted as you read this? I know we have compassion on the sinners, but what about the thousands to be murdered this year? What is you ministry to them? How does just focusing on the person willing to kill their baby defend those innocent helpless lives???

6- You said “But surely the principle applies to judging people who do not live in under the standards of the Cross.” I am not speaking of the standards of the Cross, or of either Testament. I am speaking of murder, which violates all standards, even secular ones. Even when I was deep into Wiccan practice, abortion was horrible to me. The Samaritans rejected Messiah. The US is murdering babies. Totally different, even in principle.

7- So what is the “Spirit of Christ”? Do you know what it is FOR SURE? And who should we have it towards? Many of the supplications for God’s defense and judgment in the Psalms were written by a man after God’s (Jesus’) own heart. I agree, mercy and compassion on individual sinners. That is the Spirit of Christ, as I understand it. What is His Spirit towards those babies though? Let them die? Don’t you think He is FURIOUS over this? Why is the Christian response to abortion so compassionate towards the women (I agree, it should be), but so silent on the lives and suffering of those babies??? What is the Spirit of our Messiah on their suffering? (Millstones come to mind…) As you mentioned, the “Spirit of Christ” may not always be what we think. Ask Annanias and Sapphira. It may be more compassionate or harsh than you or I could dream of. My point is, none of us really know the mind or spirit of God. We can’t totally. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray for what we believe is right.

8- I would ask for God to forgive people involved in abortion. (Your example of Stephen- although aborted fetuses never have that option)Right before I ask the Living God to have mercy on those babies and stop this practice. One last thing Maybe Judgment is already here now. When we ask God why He never stopped cancer, I can picture Him saying to us; “I did, my child, I put the cure in the brain of a little girl who never was allowed to come out of the womb”. Before my words are taken wrong, let me emphatically declare that I do not somehow believe cancer is a punishment for abortion. This was purely hypothetical, and food for thought.

I appreciate the discussion, Andrew. You provoked me to thought in many areas. That’s why we have each other, I guess! I hope I addressed everything.

And, yes, I would ‘try’ by God’s grace! All these are examples of terrible people and places, but the list does not end there. How about the ‘Son of Sam’ a famous wicked murderer of families (including children), who God wonderfully saved and is now being used as a preacher and discipler of jail inmates? Does he deserve our prescribed method of Divine judgement, more than us? I am as guilty as he in different but equally as sinful ways.

How about Saul of Tarsus? The Thief on the Cross? The adulterous woman to be stoned at the hands of religious, and forgiven by Christ? These people were as guilty for breaking the 10 commandments, as anyone today.

Think about Abraham’s plea to God to spare the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, for just a few righteous. Think of God’s mercy upon nations of all ages. Should England have been judged for the Crusades on others ‘In the name of Christ…’?

Again, God does judge nations in history, and individuals. We see Herod fall at the hands of an angel in Acts; Ananias and Sapphira struck dead (although they may have been saved, some would argue); and yet at other times Saul of Tarsus seems to ‘get away with it’! Is that justice? Is that ‘fair’? Did not the Church deserve vindication from God upon Saul at the time? And yet, God has mercy , and in another case He seems to act in judgement.

What I’m saying is that the ‘secret things belong to God’ alone. the Bible neither denies the possibility of judgement today nor gives us instructions to prescribe it on individuals or nations. It does however warn of a Holy and Just God who is a consuming fire, and yet is a ‘Friend of Sinners’. That’s the balance. We must maintain that radical middle ground. We have no right to presribe judgement, unless the Spirit of God brings a clear word from God in certain cases. We can warn of potential danger, but with a view to calling ALL to repentance. Whether they do or not, again is in His hands, not ours.

That I believe is the Spirit of Christ in His Church: a hand of salvation and mercy to ALL, no matter what vulgar things they have done. Judgment was inflicted on Christ in the Atonement of the Cross, that’s what the word propitiation means. But also there remains a fearful warning of judgement to those who refuse the mercy of God.
That coupled by restoring the broken lives affected by sin, is ‘ministering redemptively’.

Is God grieved by the mass abortion in the West? Absolutely and totally, and so should we be. But I am and He is equally as grieved by the ‘Evangelical Christian right’ churches in the West, where divorce and adultery is rampant, when God ‘hates divorce’.

Surely, first judgment begins in God’s house before we even begin to prescribe it out there in the world.

I would like to continue along these lines as well in the future. I respect that you must be very busy, and I don’t want to tie you down anymore.

I agree with you on most points, especially on judgment beginning in the church. I am likewise grieved with the church’s moral laxity. (I won’t even go there now, as I am more passionate on that subject than this one.) I agree that we should be ministers of mercy to sinners, and you are right that God alone knows when and how to bring judgment. That is as it should be. I don’t want to “tell” God how individual people should be punished for sins. I do want Him to destroy this institution of baby killing, whatever it takes. I know God can turn people around, I simply think that America will never change its support for and defense of the murder of babies. Not with a democracy ran by a people without any moral compass.

I will continue to pray, fast, and plead for God to end the murder of the unborn, and for him to convict his church of the horror of all sin, mo matter how “minor”. I guess that would be the more balanced approach.

I have to say this though, when I think of the baby that was ripped to pieces while you were reading this, I tend to care very little about balance. That is a weakness I readily admit to.

Thanks for the discussion and your thoughts. I apologize for the emotion in my first post. I hope you understand.